5 Things to Ask Your Architect About Warehouse Design
Designing a Warehouse? Ask Your Architect These 5 Questions
If you're in the market for a new warehouse, it's essential to work with an architect or engineer to lay out the design. You may think adequate warehouse space is all you need, but there's a lot more to consider.
For example, what kind of clearance do you need for storage vehicles and material handling equipment? How much ventilation is necessary? Is humidity or dryness a concern?
These are just a few questions that need answering when designing a warehouse. Below, we will discuss five things to ask your architect about warehouse design for workflow optimization. Then we'll look at some of the benefits of a well-designed warehouse.
What Do You Need to Consider in a Warehouse Design?
The list of considerations for warehouse design is a little lengthy, so we’ve narrowed it down to five of the most important:
1. Space and Budget
When it comes to warehouse design, budget and space are two of the most important components to consider. Whether deciding between building from the ground up, renovating, or moving into an existing structure, cost is a big factor.
Besides building requirements and current property availability, also consider additional expenses like:
Furniture and fixtures
Staffing costs
License fees
Depending on the size and type of warehouse, plus budget constraints, you may have access to different types of equipment in your facility. This ranges from basic forklifts and pallet jacks to automation systems like robotics and conveyor belts.
Knowledge is power when it comes to maximizing resources and upgrading your warehouse for efficiency. Knowing your space requirements and estimated costs ahead of time can help save valuable time and resources.
2. Personnel and Accessibility
Space and budget are crucial considerations, but pay careful attention to how many people will work on-site at any given time. It's vital to have a plan in place for managing personnel flow.
The plan should cover things such as:
1. Allowing adequate space for foot traffic on the warehouse floor
2. Ensuring enough spacing between various types of equipment so that it does not become overcrowded
Likewise, another aspect to consider when designing a warehouse is accessibility.
Does the location have sufficient access for trucks, forklifts, and other necessary equipment? Is there enough room for loading and unloading without having one impact the efficiency of the other?
3. Throughput and Flow
Don't neglect throughput and flow when designing a warehouse. Your operation needs to move products efficiently and effectively, creating a smoother experience for customers and staff.
The goal should be to maximize the efficiency of inbound stocking, storage, order picking, packaging, and outbound shipping in order to reduce downtime and improve performance. Everyone wins when throughput and flow are optimized!
Before you optimize your warehouse layout, analyze how much product needs to move through regularly.
Do you run a distribution center or another type of warehouse?
Examine your existing warehouse processes to determine where improvements can happen. Make necessary improvements so your warehousing infrastructure can meet current and future demands.
4. Floor Plan
When considering how to design your warehouse, there are several different directions you can go in.
U-Shaped Design
A U-shape is excellent for consolidating materials and improving security, as its closed layout limits access.
I-Shaped Design
I-shaped offers more storage space and makes keeping stock organized by type of products easier. However, the storage area can often be difficult to access for pickers.
L-Shaped Design
L-Shapes offer the best of both worlds: the organization of the I-shape with easier accessibility, like that of a U-shape.
Warehouse location will affect the viable design options since building plans often need to work with the existing landscape.
For example, an I-shaped design needs to provide truck access on both ends of the "I.” This may not be possible in locations where water or mountainous terrain hinders your ability to build driveways or access roads. It ultimately comes down to the zoning codes in your particular jurisdiction.
5. Compliance With Government Regulations
Besides meeting strict building codes, give careful consideration to various government regulations.
Compliance with agencies like Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ensures that workers are in safe conditions. OSHA governs areas such as employee protection from hazardous materials and machines used for work.
Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) helps guarantee that specific requirements, like accessible storage and navigational paths within the warehouse, are in place.
Such regulations may require additional effort upfront but will be well worth it once implemented properly.
They offer added benefits:
Improved employee morale
Preventing potential fines or lawsuits due to non-compliance
Showing customers that your business follows ethical practices
How Much Ventilation is Necessary for Warehouse Design?
Unless you’re setting up an underground operation, there’s a chance that ventilation isn’t high on your list of warehouse planning considerations ... but it should be.
Enough to Ensure Quality Air Inside
Ventilation is a critical factor in warehouse design that you shouldn't underestimate. Adequate ventilation is crucial for the efficient operation of your warehouse. It controls temperature and humidity while keeping indoor air quality safe.
Proper ventilation prevents the accumulation of moisture. Moisture can lead to mold and mildew growth, halting order fulfillment. Fresh air will also boost employee morale — leading to higher productivity and increased profitability.
But Not More Than Necessary, Depending on Your Business’s Needs
You must consider not only the size and placement of ventilation systems but also the type that fits your needs best. Different kinds of warehouses need different levels of climate control.
For example, more precise temperature and humidity regulation may be necessary for pharmaceutical products compared to raw construction materials.
Planning ahead and investing in quality ventilation systems guarantees an optimally functioning workspace.
You may also like: Elements and Strategies of Sustainable Design in Architecture
How Much Clearance Do You Need for Storage Equipment, Racking, and Vehicles?
When designing a warehouse, the design team needs to consider the size and weight of storage equipment and moving vehicles.
This includes anything used for heavy lifting or organizing within warehouses:
Dollies
Pallet jacks
Forklifts
Taking this into account helps design around your business's specific standards and maintain optimal space. For that reason, consideration of these elements should be a top priority when planning out any facility.
The impact of size capacity can be a make-or-break factor in successful warehouse operations.
Maneuverability
Don't forget to leave plenty of room for maneuverability.
Aisles and doorways should be wide enough to accommodate the type of vehicles planned for use in the facility. This can vary depending on your specific warehouse layout design, so make sure you account for all sizes in your calculations. Providing ample space ensures safe movement of equipment and personnel throughout the facility.
When it comes to making sure your warehouse interior is up to local regulations and safe for staff, a host of factors need to be in the design. Taking ceiling clearance and the appropriate stack heights into account upfront is essential.
Building From Scratch?
Keep in mind that if you can stack your products even higher, you may be able to save on floor space. There’s always going to be a trade-off, though — the higher your storage shelves go, the more liability becomes an issue.
What Are the Requirements for Bathroom and Rest Facilities?
Employees must have access to the necessary facilities during their shifts. From an adequate number of restrooms to designated rest areas, amenities ensure employees stay comfortable and productive in their work environment. Not to mention — you remain compliant with applicable laws.
A place to rest (like a break room) allows employees to kick back and recharge. Factor this in when planning your warehouse layout, as it will immensely benefit morale and productivity.
Remember that people play a huge role in creating seamless operations within the warehouse. Therefore, ensuring they can take full advantage of comfort on the job is paramount.
Don’t Forget Office Space
Whatever the size or shape, these working spaces must include the following:
Sufficient lighting
Electrical outlets
Plumbing support
Clever usage of office space can improve safety considerations and productivity levels. We advise careful planning to maximize the potential of the warehouse design.
Related: A Project Owner's Guide to Commercial Building Design
What Are the Requirements for Safety Features in Warehouse Design?
Warehouse design needs to focus heavily on safety.
Measures could include:
Emergency exit doors
Slip-resistant flooring
Adequate lighting
Guardrails and handholds along stairwells
Proper ventilation
Emergency shut-off switches for power and gas
No safety feature should be taken lightly when designing a warehouse. You must account for all of them to ensure employees have a safe working environment.
Fire Safety
Fire safety is one of the most significant considerations in any building design. With local building codes in mind, warehouses should feature adequate spacing between the ceiling and stored goods and between sprinkler heads.
Take emergency water flow (fire sprinklers) and capacity into account to ensure the entire building is protected if a fire were to break out.
Strategically planned shelving can help with safety. Store combustible materials in designated, smoke-free areas of the warehouse.
There should also be multiple exits. These exits should be clearly marked with signs and plenty of illumination down corridors. This bright marking will make it easier for anyone to quickly recognize and leave the premises at a moment's notice.
The Benefits of a Well-Designed Warehouse
There's so much to love about a well-designed warehouse: productivity, efficiency, accuracy. (If you're running the warehouse, your business's bottom line likely loves it too!)
The layout matters, of course. Yet, whether you're starting from scratch or looking to refine an existing system, having a strategy for storing and tracking supplies is key for making the most out of the space available.
Let's look at some ways that having an effective warehousing plan can make all the difference.
Improved Efficiency, Inventory Management, Overall Throughput
When it comes to warehouses, the design process is crucial and will pay dividends in the long run. An experienced architect can design an optimized facility to fit a company's unique needs, using space in the most efficient manner possible.
This allows for easier product selection and locating processes. Not to mention improved flows of material handling, resulting in:
Shorter processing times
Fewer errors
Increased safety through more conducive work areas
Reduced Stock Losses, Energy Savings, and a Smaller Carbon Footprint
A well-designed warehouse can provide tremendous efficiency gains while maintaining a regular space. An experienced architect will know the optimal placement of shelves, equipment, and personnel to minimize stock losses and save energy.
Automated systems, ground markers, and ergonomically built spaces also help create an efficient warehouse, reducing logistics costs while leaving a smaller carbon footprint. Careful planning of the flow of goods through the warehouse can help employees use minimum energy to retrieve items or transport materials.
Higher Employee Morale
A well-designed warehouse plays a key role in elevating employee morale. When there is an efficient use of space and resources, employees can feel like their workplace is modern and organized. This environment encourages them to be more productive because they know that things are being run as smoothly as possible.
A well-designed warehouse creates a sense of order and accuracy. Further, it creates an atmosphere of security for the employees, which makes them feel happy and confident in their job duties.
Poised for Future Growth
No matter where you fit into the supply chain, a well-designed warehouse will leave a little room for future growth. Adding shelves, racks, and other storage solutions will help you manage inventory better and make it easier to expand as your needs change.
Conclusion
When considering how to lay out your warehouse, asking an engineer or architect is important. They'll help you make the best use of available space while accounting for ventilation, humidity, ergonomics, and regulatory compliance.
With their expertise, you can:
Create a safe working environment with fewer errors due to mishandling and miscalculations
Increase employee morale by providing good work conditions and access to modern technology
Reduce stock losses
Save energy while creating a smaller carbon footprint
Most importantly, you will be able to plan ahead and leave room for future growth so your business can reach its goals even faster.
